he may not achieve the perfection achieved by
the Buddha.
One need not think that the Bodhisatta ideal is
reserved only for special people. What one has
done, another can do. Therefore, let us
endeavor towork selflessly for the good of
ourselves and others, having for our object in
life the ideal of service and perfection. We serve
to beperfect so as tobe perfect to serve.
The Gift of TruthKisa Gotami had an only son, and he died. In her
grief and despair, she ran from house to house
with hair disheveledand the dead childin her
arms, begging: "Please ........ please sir,please
give me medicine to cure my son. He is very
sick."
Her son was dead she was told, but Kisa Gotami
would not listen. She continued begging for
help, and the people would say: "Poor Kisa
Gotami. The grief for her child was too great for
her to bear. She had lost her senses."
Finally,Kisa Gotami met a man who said: "I
cannot give you medicine for your child, but I
know a physician who can. Go to Sakyamuni,
the Buddha.''
Kisa Gotami rushed to the Buddha, fell on her
knees and wept: "Lord and Master, you must
give me the medicine that will cure my child."
The Buddha understood her mind. With great
compassion, he spoke softly: ''I will cure your
son, Kisa Gotami, if you can get me a handfulof
mustard seedtaken from a house whereno one
has lost a child, husband, parent, or friend."
It seemed an easy task. When Kisa Gotami went
from house to house, the people pitied her and
said: "Here is mustard seed; take it!" But when
she asked, "Did a son or daughter, a father or
mother, die in your family?" they answered her:
"Alas! the living are few, but the dead are
many." And there was no house in the city
where someone has not lost a beloved one.When night fell, Kisa Gotami became tired and
hopeless. She sat down at the wayside,
watching the flame of an oil lamp as it flickered
up and was extinguished by a gust of wind.
"How selfish am I in my grief!" she thought.
"Just as that flickering light, so was my child.
Death is common to all. Yet, in this valley of
desolation there must be a path which leads to
immortality. I must seek the help of the
Master."Kisa Gotami buried the dead child in the forest
and returned to the Buddha. She took refuge in
him and found comfort in the Dhamma, the
balm that soothe all pains of troubled hearts.
The Master said to her: "The life of mortals is
troubled, brief and painful. Those who have
been born cannot avoid dying; after old age
there is death. Such is the nature of living
beings.
''As ripe fruits are in danger of falling, so is the
life of mortals. Both young and old, foolish and
wise, all fall into the power of death. A father
cannot save his son from death, nor kinsmen
their relations.
"The world is afflicted with death and decay.
Therefore, the wise, knowing the nature of the
world, do not grieve. People pass away and will
be reborn according to their deeds.
"Not from weeping nor grieving will anyone
obtain peace of mind. He who has pulled out
the arrow of grief and has overcome sorrow will
become sorrow-free and be blessed.
"Kisa Gotami, you have realized the Truth of
death and sorrow. Now, I will show you the
Path leading to Deathlessness and Peace."She was ordained into the order of nuns and
soon she attained the stage of Sainthood.14